Can Machine Vision Assist Lab Automation in Drug Discovery?
Preface In the 2006 edition of the AIA Machine Vision Market Study, we will address for the first time market opportunities beyond the factory floor. One of several market opportunities investigated relates to the Lab Automation Equipment Market. The following article is an excerpt from that investigation. Paul Kellett Background Bringing a new drug to market has been both a very time-intensive, laborious and expensive undertaking. Thousands of compounds are typically identified in the drug discovery process but only a few make it to clinical trials with human subjects. Once a drug reaches clinical testing, another three to six years on average are needed to complete the process. All in all, the Boston Consulting Group reported that introducing a new drug to the market costs on average $880 million and takes 15 years. Given such lengthy development cycles and high R & D cost, big pharma has understandably been interested in more cost-effective and timely approaches to drug discovery. I
